McRath named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss junior linebacker Gerald McRath garnered the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors following his performance in a 28-12 Golden Eagle victory over SMU last Saturday.

McRath tallied a team-high eight tackles (six solos), while tallying a half sack, 1.5 TFLs for 20 yards, a forced fumble and one pass breakup in the contest. He led or tied for the team lead in tackles for the eighth time this season.

McRath is the league's top tackler with 126 stops. He has eight or more tackles in 10 games this season.

The Power Springs, Ga., native has spearheaded a defense that has not allowed over 260 total yards in each of the last four games. The Golden Eagle defense has limited opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing over that span including a four-yard output by the Mustangs last weekend. It was the fewest yards surrendered by Southern Miss on the ground since East Carolina was held to minus-4 yards back in 2004.

Rice sophomore tight end James Casey won Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season, and UAB senior kicker/punter Swayze Waters took his second special teams honor this year.